This is the restored 1929 version of the film which may be a better quality print, but is not a better quality film. The 1925 version has a superior storyline and it can be found here. http://www.archive.org/details/ThePhantomOfTheOpera1925NewYorkGeneralReleasePrint_620 That does not mean that this movie is bad, but there are better versions available. So far the best is the milestone "The Ultimate Edition" it contains both versions and the 1929 is remastered to near perfect quality. That version can be found here: http://www.archive.org/details/ThePhantomOfTheOpera1929

The Phantom oF The Opera Carl Laemelle version is the best! i love this movie, me being a natural phan obsessed with all things phantom, have seen every version, even the horrible and utterl;y stupid dario argento version, this is number one!

That Was A Great Movie!

It Maybe The Best Films Of All Time!

A must-see film for anyone who loves the REAL Phantom of the Opera, Lon Chaney, horror film history, or all of the above! I finally watched this movie again after 24 years of Chaney's Phantom scaring me nearly to death; but I love the Phantom character and love silent movies, so I'm glad love conquered all and I finally got to see it AND enjoy it!

To fully appreciate it, one must try to avoid being over-exposed to the now-commonly-seen unmasked face of the Phantom, and know something about the times in which it was made. My father first saw the original release in 1925 as an 11-year-old boy, and confirmed that the audiences indeed were scared out of their wits with screams, faintings, and general histronics. For all the jaded folks used to modern CGI and horror effects, NO one still has accomplished anything like The Man of 1,000 faces Lon Chaney did here.

Lest I sound like a blind admirer, know that I very much disliked the oft-mentioned "wooden" performances of Mary Philbin and Norman Kerry (Christine and Raoul respectively), as well as the botched, horrible direction by the mediocre director Rupert Julian, or the tragical re-editing and cutting of the original footage.

Nonetheless wanted to give the film 5 stars for what saves and immortalizes: Chaney's performance alone and the wonderfully creepy, shadowy atmosphere it portrays. It's a fact that Chaney and Julian did NOT get along, and I've heard that it was actually Chaney himself who directed the unmasking scene (and who also insisted that all advance advertising had the unmasked Phantom's face covered).

Looking forward to a full-size theater showing around Halloween with complete theater organ accompaniment!

Ormon, to answer your question, this Version of the Infamous Phantom of the Opera is now public domain due to the plan and simple fact that Universal Studios did not renew the copyright of this film in 1953.

Just so you all know, the original 1925 Version which is in rough shape and strictly Black and White is far better then the re-release of 1929, which has color. I've compared the two, and there are significant changes. This one, which appears to be Original is the best of two.

If you've seen both and like the other better....All I got to say is: "Whatever floats your boat."

Enjoy the film. :-)

~PhantomSith

Can anyone tell me how this work fell into the public domain, if it did. The work has a valid copyright notice on the front, it was made in 1925, so after 1923, and was put out by universal who still owns the character.

the phantom of the opera with lon chaney--- is the only version of this story that is watchable . the make-up used to heighten the evil, anger , and sorrow wrapped within this character cannot be given enough praise. the background scenery is often breathtaking , and the leading lady is gorgeous . but that is about where this movie and i (sa well as most of the people reviewing here ) part ways. the story itself is unnecessarily overlong , as well as fairly slow-paced. the acting styled along the same lines as most silent films is over-hammed (even by chaney) in a lot of places. and it could do without some of the characters multiple appearances (competing singers mom for example) , and could have had a more logical ending(how all those people so far away and on foot , kept right up with that horse drawn carriage driving at a breakneck pace , i'll never know-- especially after already having stormed through tunnels and water to get back outside to chase said carriage), but all that being said---it is a visual feast at best, overlong and overacted at worst, but is worth watching -to at least see how a director of photography best does his/her job. at the very least--this film has some of the best outdoor camerashots on early film.

AMERICAN SILENT FILMS ARE NOT AS ENTERTAINING AS THEIR FOREIGN COUNTERPARTS . I HAD HEARD WHAT A WONDERFUL FILM THIS WAS AND I HAD TO CHECK IT OUT . NOT BAD , BUT NOWHERE NEAR WHAT I HEARD IT WOULD BE . ITS A LITTLE LONG , A LITTLE SLOW PACED , AND NOT DYNAMIC IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER . THE 4 AND 5 STAR RATINGS I HAVE SEEN LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS RATED SO HIGHLY BECAUSE OF SOME FORM OF NOSTALGIA THAT MAKES EVERYONE PRAISE IT FAR TOO RICHLY. A LOT OF FILMS ON THIS SIGHT ARE FAR BETTER THAN THIS ONE. LON CHANEY IS INDEED THE MASTER OF BRINGING MAKEUP TO THE FOREFRONT OF A CHARACTER , BUT THIS MOVIE COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF 30 MINUTES WERE SHAVED OFF , AND I AM NOT ONE WHO WOULD NORMALLY SAY SUCH A THING , BUT IN THIS CASE IT COULD HAVE HELPED KEEP THE PACE OF THE FILM FROM BOGGING DOWN SO OFTEN .

I've been what one would call a Phan for about 12 years now, and I must say this is by far the BEST version of the story ever to be captured on film. I first discovered this movie when I became a fan of all things Phantom. At that time, I was not fond of silent films, but this one was the exception. For anyone who's read Gaston Leroux's original novel, it is plain to see how true to the story this film has remained. Although I've grown to appreciate silent movies over the years, this potrayal of The Phantom of the Opera remains my favorite.

One of the masterpieces of cinema.

For anyone who may be curious, the music with this film is: Schubert, Symphony No 8 and Piano Trio in Eb, Op100.

The best Phantom to this date. I saw the Andrew Lloyd Weber production in Toronto and thought it was very impressive, and I relived the film over again. I would put the stage musical up there with the art of "the Phantom". The Phantom eternally played by Lon Chaney is terrifying. I have also had the pleasure of seeing this on Holloween at our state theater here in Kalamazoo with an excellent organ score and a 35mm print. Be sure to download this and enjoy it again and again. You will see the masterful disguise made famouse by the man of 1000 faces.

At least five film remakes have been made since this original classic horror.

The beauty of Phantom is the volume of its archetypal themes. The story is a classic romance of unrequited love cast in a beauty vs. the beast narrative.

This specific film is undoubtedly a case study in the classic haunted house tale, although this house is for operas and not the traditional domesticated abode. Additionally, the film is a morality tale warning people about the dangers of excessively pursuing success. The film also boasts an excellently choreographed chase scene at the end, full of action, drama, and twists and turns.

The set design is also impressive. The setting of an opera house full of props and stage structures adds a point of realism to the film that would otherwise be lost.

There is too much to write about this classic. Clearly, Phantom is one of the greatest silent films ever made. It is taut with complex themes and fabulously acted, designed, and written. Modern viewers not used to silent films will be surprised at how easy it is to watch this film. And as one of the earliest installments of the horror genre, Phantom is still one of its best. Indeed, it's one of the greatest films ever made in any genre.

An old flick but worth a watch. Really! DonÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt just read this review, I am sure you have already started the download. Happy viewing. Manavkaushik at hotmail.

The Phantom lives!

This movie simply could not be more impressive, a true classic from the time of silent films. Terrific plots, spooky sets, scary stuff, one of my favorite Halloween experiences of all time was seeing this in an old chapel with live pipe organ music. That being said, the copy itself is pretty dreadful: blurry, noisy, over or under exposed. It's good enough to whet your appetite for a better print, at the risk of sounding like a commercial endorsement, pick up the Milestone collection version. It's terrific.

I'm giving it four stars only because I'd like to see a better version of such a fine movie.

In my opinion, a superb version of the classic silent masterpiece, "The Phantom of the Opera"(1925). I was delighted to hear the score for this version. I have heard many different editions, and I think I like this one most of all.
As far as I can tell, the color tints and the colored scene(added in 1929, if memory serves) are not in this edition. But for me that's a plus.
Highly, highly suggested for any fan of the Silent Era, and horror film history in general.
5 stars.